Small businesses teeter on the edge of a cliff and millions of people are waiting to see if their unemployment benefits will end this month, while Jared Kushner’s multiple multi-million dollar family businesses found a way to cash in on the coronavirus pandemic through loans intended for companies that desperately needed those funds to survive. The Kushners are an integral part of the Trump administration and must not be allowed to abuse their power for personal gain, especially at the expense of others while we all deal with the economic hardships of the coronavirus pandemic. The Payroll Protection Program (PPP) was established through the CARES relief programs Congress created to help small businesses owners weather the global coronavirus pandemic. Yet, several large entities that are part of the Kushner family conglomerate of corporations cashed in on these Small Business Administration (SBA) funds. According to the SBA—which recently released loan data on PPP loans only after significant public pressure—the Kushner family’s corporate entities received millions of dollars under the program, including between $350,000 and $1,000,000 for Observer Holdings, formerly run by Jared Kushner himself and now owned by his brother-in-law(1), another $350,000 to $1,000,000 for Esplanade Livingston, which houses the Kushner family Westminster Hotel in New Jersey (2), and between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 to Princeton Forrestal LLC which lists Kushner’s mom, brother, and sister as owners (3). While the Kushners and many other large businesses with access and ties to the White House raked in millions, Color of Change reports that 41% of Black business owners were denied any aid. (4) We know our country has discriminated against Black businesses for generations, denying loans, redlining shops, and discrimination. And we know that massive handouts to the wealthy and well-connected are what drives inequality across the board. The Kushner family must not perpetuate this inequality - return your funds now, and allow those who need it most—more diverse small businesses—to get relief. https://www.businessinsider.com/kushner-family-firms-received-millions-in-paycheck-protection-loans-2020-7 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/us/ppp-small-business-loans.html https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-small-biz-rescue-bailed-out-kushners-family-obamas-aides-and-other-political-elite/body https://colorofchange.org/press_release/first-covid-19-survey-of-black-and-latino-small-business-owners-reveals-dire-economic-future/

The hypocrisy of Senate Republicans is unbelievable. While our country faced an economic depression resulting from the coronavirus crisis, with small businesses struggling to survive and millions of Americans out of work, Republicans railed against the government offering aid, which they considered excessive government spending. Eventually, Congress did pass coronavirus relief bills, despite the roadblocks put up by the Republican-led Senate—and it also approved the Paycheck Protection Program, a fund to aid small businesses. But guess who actually benefited from the PPP program? Not mom and pop shops across America. And not Black-owned businesses—41% of Black business owners were denied any aid. No. It’s Republican donors and lobbyists who made off with millions and millions of dollars from a program intended to help small businesses, despite rules to prevent federal dollars being used for lobbying or political activities. And now, with the public health crisis getting worse, and no end in sight to the economic suffering of tens of millions, the Republican-led Senate is refusing to take action on legislation to provide real relief for working people. We will no longer allow our political representatives to funnel money to their cronies while we go without. We demand accountability. Republicans in Congress must publicly disclose which of their donors, lobbyists, and allies received funds from the Paycheck Protection Program.

The Paycheck Protection Program is a $660 billion fund approved by Congress that was intended to help small businesses during the coronavirus crisis. Yet actual small businesses found it nearly impossible to receive adequate PPP money: A survey of small business owners found that just 12% of Black and Latino business owners who applied for loans received what they asked for, with nearly half of them saying they would have to shut down their businesses. And they weren’t asking for a lot of money—two-thirds of them sought loans of less than $50,000. But there are companies that easily received money, and a whole lot of it: Donald Trump’s associates, donors, and firms working for him. The law firm of the lawyer who represented Trump during the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election got between $5 million and $10 million. The Trump Organization’s partner in a hotel and residential tower in Hawaii received a loan in the range of $2 million to $5 million. An energy drink company that donated six figures in corporate money to Trump’s preferred super PAC got a loan in the range of $5 million to $10 million. And a Republican opposition research firm employed by the Trump campaign got a loan between $350 thousand and $1 million. It’s clear that the Paycheck Protection Program did not benefit the small businesses for which it was intended but instead padded the pockets of the ultra-wealthy, the politically powerful, and the Trump-adjacent. As millions of Americans continue to suffer from this public health crisis and accompanying economic catastrophe, Trump and the GOP have been focused on handing over even more resources to the wealthy and well-connected. The United States Treasury Department, whose job it is to properly administer the Paycheck Protection Program, must ensure that the companies who gamed the system in taking out loans are required to pay back all of the money that they received.

During President Trump's visit to India in February 2020, mobs attacked minority neighborhoods leading to 46 deaths and displacing thousands. This tragedy along with discriminatory national legislation (including a religion-based system to grant citizenship) demonstrate that India's values of democracy, secularism, and human rights are under serious threat. **If your organization wants to be listed as a signatory, please email: [email protected]**

There is no way to keep students, teachers, staff, bus drivers and cafeteria workers safe if they report to school buildings. Until there is 100% assurance that children will not bring COVID-19 home from school, no school buildings should reopen in Florida. Remote instruction is feasible, and in cases where parents cannot handle instruction a tutoring program should be established to ensure that kids can keep learning. This can be accomplished state-wide or district by district. If families do not have computers or internet access, these resources should be provided by the Florida Department of Education, by federal funding, or by community foundations. Reevaluate this position in January 2021 and/or after an effective COVID-19 vaccine has been developed and tested and is widely available.

The Platform Recommendations can be found here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e29d73ca02c794ae43fc4e6/t/5edddb7fa357687217d1f8c3/1591597952565/DNC+Climate+Council+Recommendations++2020+06+08+Web+Final.pdf Climate change is an issue that affects broad coalitions of young people in the United States. The lasting effects of climate change will devastate the future economic prospects of young people, and in particular young people of color and native young people. With this in mind, we believe the recommendations issued by the DNC Council on the Environment & Climate Crisis are the most pragmatic solutions available. We implore the rest of our members on the YDA National Committee to call for a meeting to hold a vote, and ultimately vote in support of, the Young Democrats of America endorsing the DNC Climate Council's Recommendations for Energy and Climate Policy in the 2020 DNC Platform.

This is essential to maintain the health of our people and our economy during the corona virus pandemic.

Days after the WNBA announced it would take extraordinary steps to amplify the movement for Black Lives, U.S. Senator and co-owner of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream Kelly Loeffler, declared, "I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement" and that we should "remove politics from sports." The WNBA announced that it would spotlight Breonna Taylor's name on jersey's, "Say Her Name" on warm-ups, and "Black Lives Matter" on its basketball courts. Sen. Loeffler, a major supporter of President Trump, criticized the league for taking a stand and said they should put an "American flag on every jersey" as a "common-sense" solution. Former and current WNBA stars Sheryl Swoopes, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Natasha Cloud, Alysha Clark, and Sue Bird have all called for Sen. Loeffler's removal as an owner from the league. Basketball icon Sheryl Swoopes tweeted, "WNBA MUST do better." She's absolutely right. We need to stand with the WNBA in their bold support of the Black Lives Matter movement, especially when a U.S. Senator is trying to intimidate the women's basketball league to fall in line with President Trump's racist view of BLM. SOURCE: "Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler critical of WNBA's Black Lives Matter initiative," ESPN, July 7, 2020 https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/29424379/dream-co-owner-kelly-loeffler-critical-wnba-black-lives-matter-initiative

Maria Pereira “Still” Must Go was created by the people of Bridgeport Connecticut along with the support of Bridgeport Public Schools, parents, and community leaders because of Maria Pereira’s continuously belligerent behavior directed towards colleagues, parents, BOE members and anyone not in agreement with her bullying tactics. She is in violation of the Robert's Rules of Law in her disruptive behaviors that consist of shouting, name-calling, intimidation, and unprofessional language. Her history of violence, her criminal record, and threats of lawsuits towards the mayor and anyone who doesn't agree with her has the 21,000 children of Bridgeport held hostage. Her lack of integrity and character are poor examples in which anyone in her seat should be held to a higher standard. Her history of voting to endanger the welfare of Bridgeport students and community makes her unfit to be a councilwoman any longer. Her inability to work civilly with the current community has caused boycotting. Furthermore, her insensitive comments have caused racial tensions in our city to flare at an alarming rate. Her moral turpitude insinuating that people of color holding political offices cannot bring in good financial standing to our city is outright egregious and will not be tolerated. Maria Pereira must go; this is not a request but rather a demand! We the community, parents, and children of Bridgeport Public Schools want her resignation!

It’s been 10 months and no one has been charged. The driver has been identified and still no charges. Aryues Townsend was 24 years old and deserves justice. He was proud to be an organ donor and was able to save 7 lives. He loved and lived life to fullest! He was well loved by so many. His family and friends deserve closure. We want justice for Aryues Townsend!

I am an essential worker at a grocery store. Unlike those who have been able to work from home or have been furloughed and collect an extra $600 in unemployment, I have been showing up to work throughout the coronavirus pandemic. I provide an essential service to my community and, as such, should be paid accordingly, especially when I am putting my life at risk each and everyday I work. The risks involved in dealing with large groups of people indoors during a pandemic are high. Also, most essential workers have to travel long distances, many by public transportation, adding to their risk of becoming ill from COVID-19. Many of my fellow coworkers have gotten ill from COVID-19; some have been sick for months. At this time we don't know what long-lasting effects result from COVID-19, although evidence is starting to show even asymptomatic cases can cause lung damage. Aside from the trauma of working during the coronavirus pandemic, many grocery store workers rely on working several jobs at once and many of these jobs in the service industry are no longer available. Most of us live paycheck-to-paycheck, and have no real financial stability when we need it the most. The added stress and anxiety of trying to make ends meet at a time when our hours are being cut and other sources of income are not available takes a huge toll on us mentally and physically. Grocery store workers, truck drivers, doctors, and nurses have been the lifeline for communities, especially during this pandemic. We certainly appreciate all the thanks we have received, but it is time to show real appreciation by providing us with retroactive hazard pay. In this way, we can continue to serve the community knowing we are supported financially during this pandemic. I call on the US Congress to add retroactive hazard pay for essential workers into the new stimulus bill.

Right now, the United States is sending people in uniform to fight and die in wars that the majority of current members of Congress have never even voted on. Now, because of the Trump administration’s sheer recklessness, utter incompetence, and flagrant disregard for life these troops been at greater risk than even we imagined — recent reports reveal that for MONTHS the Donald Trump has known that Putin's government has been offering bounties to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan…and has apparently done nothing. Such inaction is unconscionable. And a critical reminder of the long-overdue need to END the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Let’s make this the tipping point to end endless war. Add your name to demand Congress repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force NOW.